Механический метод очистки сточных вод

В статье рассматриваются основные методы очистки сточных вод. Описан механический метод очистки и представлены его особенности. Приведен процесс очистки вод данным методом. The article deals with the basic methods of wastewater treatment. Described mechanical method of cleaning and presents its features. An process water treatment by this method

Experimental Realisation of High-sensitivity Laboratory X-ray Grating-based Phase-contrast Computed Tomography

The possibility to perform high-sensitivity X-ray phase-contrast imaging with laboratory grating-based phase-contrast computed tomography (gbPC-CT) setups is of great interest for a broad range of high-resolution biomedical applications. However, achieving high sensitivity with laboratory gbPC-CT setups still poses a challenge because several factors such as the reduced flux, the polychromaticity of the spectrum, and the limited coherence of the X-ray source reduce the performance of laboratory gbPC-CT in comparison to gbPC-CT at synchrotron facilities. In this work, we present our laboratory X-ray Talbot-Lau interferometry setup operating at 40 kVp and describe how we achieve the high sensitivity yet unrivalled by any other laboratory X-ray phase-contrast technique. We provide the angular sensitivity expressed via the minimum resolvable refraction angle both in theory and experiment, and compare our data with other differential phase-contrast setups. Furthermore, we show that the good stability of our high-sensitivity setup allows for tomographic scans, by which even the electron density can be retrieved quantitatively as has been demonstrated in several preclinical studies

Assessment of penetration of Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate into biological membranes by molecular dynamics

The present work, involves the simulation of the transport of a vitamin C derivative, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate (ATI), through human skin by molecular dynamics. Percutaneous absorption of the ATI molecule through the infundibulum, an important route of absorption into the hair follicle of the human skin, has been modeled and compared with the stratum corneum membrane. The comparative study was done, using molecular dynamics with Martini force field. In infundibulum, a single ATI molecule require more time to penetrate, and the data obtained suggested that a high concentration of ATI molecule accelerated the process of penetration. In conclusion, the ATI molecule was found to have more affinity towards the stratum corneum as compared towards the infundibulum and it followed a straight pathway to penetrate (until 600 ns of simulation). In infundibulum, it showed less affinity, more mobility and followed a lateral pathway. Thus, this work contributes to a better understanding of the different molecular interactions during percutaneous absorption of active molecules in these two different types of biological membranes.The authors acknowledge financial support from the Brazilian agencies CAPES, Finep and Fapesp (Project FINEP 01.10.0661-00, FAPESP 2011/13250-0, FAPESP 2013/17247-9, FAPESP 2014/05975-2, CAPES 88887068264/2014-00), of Institute of Research and Development, University of Vale Paraíba

Soil and land use research in Europe: lessons learned from INSPIRATION bottom-up strategic research agenda setting

We introduce the INSPIRATION bottom-up approach for the development of a strategic research agenda for spatial planning, land use and soil-sediment-water-system management in Europe. Research and innovation needs were identified by more than 500 European funders, endusers, scientists, policy makers, public administrators and consultants. We report both on the concept and on the implementation of the bottom-up approach, provide a critique of the process and draw key lessons for the development of research agendas in the future. Based on identified strengths and weaknesses we identified as key opportunities and threats 1) a high ranking and attentiveness for the research topics on the political agenda, in press and media or in public awareness, 2) availability of funding for research, 3) the resources available for creating the agenda itself, 4) the role of the sponsor of the agenda development, and 5) the continuity of stakeholder engagement as bases for identification of windows of opportunity, creating ownership for the agenda and facilitating its implementation. Our derived key recommendations are 1) a clear definition of the area for which the agenda is to be developed and for the targeted user, 2) a conceptual model to structure the agenda, 3) making clear the expected roles, tasks, input formats regarding the involvement and communication with the stakeholders and project partners, 4) a sufficient number of iterations and checks of the agenda with stakeholders to insure completeness, relevance and creation of co-ownership for the agenda, and 5) from the beginning prepare the infrastructure for the network to implement the agenda

Combating the effects of climatic change on forests by mitigation strategies

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Forests occur across diverse biomes, each of which shows a specific composition of plant communities associated with the particular climate regimes. Predicted future climate change will have impacts on the vulnerability and productivity of forests; in some regions higher temperatures will extend the growing season and thus improve forest productivity, while changed annual precipitation patterns may show disadvantageous effects in areas, where water availability is restricted. While adaptation of forests to predicted future climate scenarios has been intensively studied, less attention was paid to mitigation strategies such as the introduction of tree species well adapted to changing environmental conditions.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We simulated the development of managed forest ecosystems in Germany for the time period between 2000 and 2100 under different forest management regimes and climate change scenarios. The management regimes reflect different rotation periods, harvesting intensities and species selection for reforestations. The climate change scenarios were taken from the IPCC's Special Report on Emission Scenarios (SRES). We used the scenarios A1B (rapid and successful economic development) and B1 (high level of environmental and social consciousness combined with a globally coherent approach to a more sustainable development). Our results indicate that the effects of different climate change scenarios on the future productivity and species composition of German forests are minor compared to the effects of forest management.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The inherent natural adaptive capacity of forest ecosystems to changing environmental conditions is limited by the long life time of trees. Planting of adapted species and forest management will reduce the impact of predicted future climate change on forests.</p

Depiction of pneumothoraces in a large animal model using x-ray dark-field radiography

The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic value of x-ray dark-field radiography to detect pneumothoraces in a pig model. Eight pigs were imaged with an experimental grating-based large-animal dark-field scanner before and after induction of a unilateral pneumothorax. Image contrast-tonoise ratios between lung tissue and the air-filled pleural cavity were quantified for transmission and dark-field radiograms. The projected area in the object plane of the inflated lung was measured in dark-field images to quantify the collapse of lung parenchyma due to a pneumothorax. Means and standard deviations for lung sizes and signal intensities from dark-field and transmission images were tested for statistical significance using Student's two-tailed t-test for paired samples. The contrast-to-noise ratio between the air-filled pleural space of lateral pneumothoraces and lung tissue was significantly higher in the dark-field (3.65 +/- 0.9) than in the transmission images (1.13 +/- 1.1;p = 0.002). In case of dorsally located pneumothoraces, a significant decrease (-20.5%;p > 0.0001) in the projected area of inflated lung parenchyma was found after a pneumothorax was induced. Therefore, the detection of pneumothoraces in x-ray dark-field radiography was facilitated compared to transmission imaging in a large animal model

In-vivo X-ray Dark-Field Chest Radiography of a Pig

X-ray chest radiography is an inexpensive and broadly available tool for initial assessment of the lung in clinical routine, but typically lacks diagnostic sensitivity for detection of pulmonary diseases in their early stages. Recent X-ray dark-field (XDF) imaging studies on mice have shown significant improvements in imaging-based lung diagnostics. Especially in the case of early diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), XDF imaging clearly outperforms conventional radiography. However, a translation of this technique towards the investigation of larger mammals and finally humans has not yet been achieved. In this letter, we present the first in-vivo XDF full-field chest radiographs (32 x 35 cm(2)) of a living pig, acquired with clinically compatible parameters (40 s scan time, approx. 80 mu Sv dose). For imaging, we developed a novel high-energy XDF system that overcomes the limitations of currently established setups. Our XDF radiographs yield sufficiently high image quality to enable radiographic evaluation of the lungs. We consider this a milestone in the bench-to-bedside translation of XDF imaging and expect XDF imaging to become an invaluable tool in clinical practice, both as a general chest X-ray modality and as a dedicated tool for high-risk patients affected by smoking, industrial work and indoor cooking

Community structure of amphipods from sediment traps in the eastern Fram Strait - interactions with environmental parameters in a changing Arctic. Eberhard Karls University Tübingen,

Summary: During the last twenty years, the Arctic is under rapid environmental change also affecting the marine fauna. In this context, samples from sediment traps (200m water depth) of the Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) observatory HAUSGARTEN in the northeastern Fram Strait (79°N, 4°E) have been used to obtain year-round abundances and inter-annual trends of zooplankton swimmers in time-series from the year 2000 until 2014. Those time-series sediment trap samples offer a unique insight into Arctic zooplankton population dynamics and changes therein. Dominating swimmer biomass, Arctic pelagic amphipods represent a valuable data source to reveal environmental changes. Amphipods are key species in the Arctic pelagic system linking primary consumers such as copepods with higher trophic levels like marine mammals and sea birds. This investigation is mainly based on amphipod sampling data of three consecutive years (2011-2014) obtained at two locations within the LTER HAUSGARTEN. In total, seven amphipod species of four taxonomic families could be observed (Hyperiidae, Lanceolidae, Eusiridae, and Gammaridae). Amphipods of the genus Themisto could be shown to dominate the epipelagic amphipod community by >97%. The latest abundance development of the native Themisto species – the boreal T. abyssorum and the Arctic T. libellula – and the intruding T. compressa is described and related to environmental data such as sea ice extend, North Atlantic Oscillation index, marine current velocity, current direction, ocean temperature, and water salinity. Between 2000 and 2014, increasing amphipod abundances could be observed, presumably due to changed trophic interactions and the warming system. Abundances analyzed at the central HAUSGARTEN site were considerably larger than at the northern location, which was likely provoked by hydrographic features and differences in sea ice cover. Further, range shifts in amphipods are evident: abundances of the North Atlantic species T. compressa continued to increase compared to mid-2000s, which may be attributed to warmer Atlantic water inflow causing slightly higher ocean temperatures in eastern Fram Strait. This trend is also supported by elevated abundances of the temperate species Lanceola clausi observed in the HAUSGARTEN sediment traps time-series. In addition, hardly any immature individual of the Arctic T. libellula was recorded in the sampling period 2013/14, even though juveniles of this species were common previously. These findings suggest environmental shifts taking place in the seasonally ice-covered eastern Fram Strait. The three dominating pelagic Themisto-species showed significant seasonal variability, with high abundances in summer and lower quantities in winter. Overall, Themisto abyssorum dominated the amphipod community by >50%. However, in 2012/13, T. abyssorum and T. libellula were present in nearly equal proportions (~40%) at both HAUSGARTEN sites. That sampling period was characterized by ambivalent ocean temperatures with a first warm winter and a pronounced temperature drop after which cold water prevailed all summer 2013 long. Whereas the two native species were present throughout the year, T. compressa was absent over long periods in winter (November to February). T. libellula featured erratic occurrences in late summers between July and September. A seasonal pattern was also evident in the gender analysis, which revealed similar patterns for the native species with elevated male proportions in winter only (up to 32%), which was reversed for T. compressa (40% in summers). Overall, high male proportions in T. compressa could be observed irrespective of the HAUSGARTEN site. Maturity studies rendered noteworthy proportions of juveniles for T. abyssorum only, which were further seasonally well distributed at the northern HAUSGARTEN site. No juveniles of T. compressa were detected in winters. Hence, this study also strongly highlights the advantages of sediment trap swimmer investigations in pelagic zooplankton studies complementing yet established research approaches. The present master thesis highly supports the use of sediment trap time-series to obtain year-round data sets which on a long-term basis enlarge our knowledge on pelagic processes